The region’s two Indian tribes have agreed to allow state-run Keno gaming in exchange for 25 percent of the total revenues.

The state Office of Policy and Management announced Tuesday that it has reached agreement with both the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes allowing for the Connecticut Lottery Corp. to add Keno to its repertoire starting in January.

The tribes, each of which will receive 12.5 percent of gross revenues, had contended that any state-run Keno game would violate Connecticut’s pact limiting gaming to tribal casinos.

The agreement allows the two tribes to offer Keno on their reservations and authorizes them as official retailers of the Connecticut Lottery.

“These agreements ... represent the next step forward in bringing Keno to the state,” said Ben Barnes, OPM secretary, in a statement.

The Connecticut legislature had authorized Keno operations in 2013, but the game was never implemented and the bill was repealed the following year because no hearings were held before its approval.

The game is expected to add $44 million to government revenues, after the tribes get their cut, over the next two years.

Keno, which originated in China, involves numbers being drawn every four minutes, with 20 winning picks available out of a field of 80 possibilities.

Winning tickets will be redeemed at a licensed retailer or the Lottery.

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow